Daycare & ECE in Hillcrest
12 licensed early childhood services across 2 service types in Hillcrest, Auckland.
Composite = our 0–100 ECE quality score (weighted average of six ERO dimensions, normalised within Equity Index band). 20 Hours ECE & ERO coverage are counts of the 12 licensed services in Hillcrest.
Estimate your costs: our FamilyBoost + Childcare Subsidy calculator stacks 20 Hours ECE, the means-tested Childcare Subsidy, and the IRD FamilyBoost rebate to show net weekly cost.
Services in Hillcrest, by type
Education & Care — 11
Caterpillars to Butterflies Childcare
Caterpillars to Butterflies Childcare is an education and care service in Hillcrest, Auckland with a current roll of 51 children. Our analysis of the ERO report (November 2022) found the service graded B in curriculum and learning, health and safety, and leadership and governance. The centre offers an inclusive, responsive curriculum aligned with Te Whāriki, meets regulatory health and safety standards, and has qualified leadership providing oversight.
BestStart Hillcrest
ERO assessed BestStart Hillcrest as Not well placed in 2018. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strengths in children's wellbeing, whānau partnership, health and safety, and leadership, but noted that bicultural practice required further development to deepen culturally responsive understanding.
Waikato Montessori Early Education Centre
Riverlea Kindergarten
Riverlea Kindergarten is an education and care service in Hillcrest, Hamilton with a current roll of 20 children. Our analysis of the ERO report from April 2023 found the service graded C in bicultural practice, with te reo and tikanga embedded but Pacific cultures underrepresented and scope for broader cultural inclusivity.
Hillcrest High School Community Childcare
Hillcrest High School Community Childcare is an education and care service for 35 children in Hamilton. Our analysis of the ERO report identifies strengths in health and safety compliance, while bicultural practice and leadership and governance are in early stages of development, with the internal evaluation framework needing greater focus on learning outcomes.
Rotorua Girls' High School Childcare Centre
Big Hugz Early Learning Centre Limited
Minimee Early Childhood Adventure
Little Discoverers
Neemo Childcare Centre
Neemo Childcare Centre is an education and care service in Hillcrest with a current roll of 58 children. Our analysis of the ERO report identifies inconsistent delivery of learning provocations as an area for development, while children's wellbeing, whānau partnership, health and safety, and leadership and governance all received B grades.
New Shoots Children's Centre - Hillcrest
An ERO review in June 2023 assessed the service across three dimensions. Our analysis of the ERO report found the centre rated B in whānau partnership, health and safety, and leadership and governance. The service demonstrates positive engagement with whānau aspirations, meets health and safety standards, and has qualified leadership with a predominantly qualified teaching team.
Explore Hillcrest & Auckland
Schools in Hillcrest
When they age out of daycare, check schoolsnearme.co.nz for every NZ school with audited financials + ERO reviews.
Frequently asked
- How many daycare and ECE centres are in Hillcrest?
- There are 12 licensed early childhood services in Hillcrest, Auckland: 11 education & care, 1 kindergarten. Combined enrolment 597 children.
- Is there childcare near me in Hillcrest?
- Yes — Hillcrest has 12 licensed early childhood services, every one of them listed below with its address, service type and 20 Hours ECE status. To rank them by walking or driving distance from your exact address, use our find-by-address radius search.
- What's the largest daycare in Hillcrest?
- New Shoots Children's Centre - Hillcrest is the largest licensed centre in Hillcrest with 125 children enrolled (education & care). See the per-centre listing below for size details on every centre.
- Which centres in Hillcrest offer 20 Hours ECE?
- 0 of 12 centres (0%) in Hillcrest participate in 20 Hours ECE, which subsidises up to 20 hours/week of care for 3-5 year olds. The 20-Hrs pill on each centre card below shows participation.
- Are there kindergartens in Hillcrest?
- Yes — 1 kindergarten in Hillcrest. Free Kindergartens typically charge little or nothing for 3-5 year olds because of 20 Hours ECE.
- Which operator chains have centres in Hillcrest?
- 2 operator chains with centres in Hillcrest: BestStart Educare (1), New Shoots Children's Centres (1). Plus 10 independent centres.
- How much does daycare cost in Hillcrest?
- Costs in Hillcrest follow the NZ national pattern: education & care centres typically $280-$360/week for under-2s, dropping to $0-$100/week for 3-5 year olds at 20-Hours-participating centres. Free Kindergartens charge little or nothing for 3-5 year olds. FamilyBoost (25% IRD rebate, $75/week cap) applies on top. See our /cost-of-daycare/hillcrest/ page for the per-age × per-type breakdown.
- What government support is available for childcare in Hillcrest?
- All 12 licensed centres in Hillcrest are eligible for the three stackable supports: 20 Hours ECE (universal for 3-5yr olds at 0 participating Hillcrest centres), the means-tested Childcare Subsidy from MSD, and FamilyBoost (25% rebate up to $75/week from IRD, phased out from $140k-$180k household income). Use our /familyboost-calculator for your specific net weekly cost.
- How much is childcare per hour NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Hillcrest.
- How much does it cost to care for a child per week?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Hillcrest.
- How many hours is free daycare NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Hillcrest.
- How much does Winz pay for childcare subsidy?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Hillcrest.
- How much does Winz pay for childcare?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Hillcrest.
Understanding NZ ECE — topic guides
Data sources & freshness (4 sources · last refresh 12 July 2026)
Service type, address, roll, ethnicity, Equity Index, 20 Hours, Takiwā, lat/lng
Annual financial returns (community-based + umbrella orgs)
Per-centre review reports + 6-dimension letter grades (curriculum / wellbeing / whānau / bicultural / health & safety / leadership)
Safety score, crime/1k, 2023 Census demographics
Last build refresh: . See full methodology + data sources pages for licences, refresh cadences, and known gaps.